Chapter Two

Leon open his eyes to find himself outside – at first he though they manged to escaped the cave but something about the open space felt wrong. It was too bright and the grass was too green and his friends weren't with him. Leon looked around him more carefully to find any clue where he was to his surprise a small boy appeared nearby and was looking at him from a distance. This was a strange place.

"Hello," said Leon don't wanting to scared the boy "My name is Leon – what is your name?"

"I don't talk to knights," said the boy at once – he seem very familiar to Leon but he didn't know why. "I don't like knights…."

Leon didn't question the boy about that – he knew that no everyone liked knights and children were sometimes scared of them especially the ones that lived in the villages outside of Camelot. Not all knights were seen a good "Where are we?" he asked.

The boy looked around "I'm not sure – I just woken up here…Maybe my sister is playing a joke – she dose do that sometimes – only her jokes aren't very funny…"

Leon frowned to himself as he tried to place the boy. He thoughts went to his missing friends. "Gwaine?" he asked looking at the boy in disbelieve. This couldn't be Gwaine but yet… that was the only thing that made sense….the couldn't of been Percival - he looked nothing like him and it seemed unlikely to be Merlin as Leon knew he didn't have any brothers or sisters.

The boy looked at him surprised "How did you know my name?" he asked sounding very defensive "We don't own you nothing…we own nothing to no king – not anymore….."

Leon blinked and wondered why the child Gwaine would hate kings so much. But right now that wasn't important. Leon remember what Merlin said about breaking out the first spell – about remembering who you were – knowing who you were, maybe this was the same thing "Gwaine you're a knight of Camelot..."

"No, I'm not – I will never be a knight. I will ….never ever never…." Said Gwaine at once "Kings lie they always lie…you're a liar."

Gwaine was a stubborn and angry child. And Leon didn't want Gwaine to run off on his own "We need to find a way home," said Leon talking out loud "It will be quicker if we look together…" Gwaine looked like his disagree but he finally nodded his head. Maybe they was an part of this childlike Gwaine that was still an adult?

"But," he said "This doesn't mean I like you…."

...

Percival walked on his own hoping to find one of his friends or find a way out of this dream like land. He come to a river where a dark hair child was throwing stones into the water. Percival looked at the child and recognized at once that the child was Merlin – they was no mistaking the ears and the eyes. Percival must have made a noise because Merlin looked around at Percival "Who are you?" asked Merlin "What are you doing here…"

"I am not quite sure," said Percival carefully – so Merlin had no memory of being older – that could be a problem. Merlin was watching his with a curious look on his face.

"Are you lost?" asked Merlin at once "You look lost…"

"I am," agreed Percival nodding his head "I want to find my friends…." He explain "Only I haven't seen them…." Percival didn't know what he would do if all three of his friends were also children. This had to be a nightmare.

Merlin looked at Percival "Are they in trouble? My friend Will is always in trouble – but Mother says that I get into trouble in an empty room…but Will looks for it and I just find it…that's why we are friends…" Merlin paused for a moment "Are they in trouble?"

"They might be," said Percival wishing he knew more about magic at that moment. Wishing he knew what was going on. "Any idea where they could be?" he asked carefully. Merlin wasn't acting lost or afraid Percival though that was a little odd but right now he was more concern about finding everyone and getting out of this place. Percival was hoping that Merlin would be somewhat helpful.

Merlin was still looking at Percival it was getting unnerving – It was like Merlin was trying to read him mind. "I can help you look, I don't need to be home till nightfall…" said Merlin walking to Percival "I think you're friends are in the cursed caves…people always go into them all the time….they shouldn't of gone….didn't they know you shouldn't go into curse caves?"

"We didn't listen to the warning" said Percival a little amused "Can you lead me to the caves?"

Child Merlin rolled his eyes "Of course…." He said in a voice filled with confident, Merlin lend the way through the trees. "How many friends have you got?" asked Merlin as they walked

"A few," said Percival thinking that this child couldn't be more than eight but he didn't act like it "What about you?"

"My only friend is Will," said Merlin at once "No one else likes me every much…they say I am curse because I was born at midnight in the middle of winter during a storm…old man Simmons said they should of drown me then…" younger Merlin seem not to know when to keep his mouth shut – that must of gotten him into a lot of trouble growing up. While Arthur may complain Merlin never stopped talking - Merlin rarely said anything that got him into any real trouble.

Percival wasn't sure how to respond to that. By the sound of it Merlin didn't have an easy childhood – being an illegitimate child was hard enough but also having be label as cursed because of ancient superstitions must of made it harder "That wasn't very kind," he finally said "I don't like the sound of that old man Simmons…."

Merlin giggle a little bit "Only me and Will call him that…mother said we shouldn't…" Merlin stopped at looked at Percival "My mother tell me a lot of things – she is teaching me to read and write….."

"That's good," said Percival at once "Might come in useful – one day you might become a physician or something…"

Merlin looked unsure "I don't think so, I don't think I will be very good at that."

"Maybe you're surprised yourself," commented Percival "Can you show me where the caves are?" Merlin nodded his head. Merlin started in walk into the trees and Percival followed behind.

...

"Are we nearly there yet?" asked Gwaine for the tenth time, as he followed Leon. Leon wasn't sure if Gwaine was being annoying on purpose but it was a challenge not to snap at the boy. Leon was still concern about Gwaine running away and getting lost "Are we nearly there yet?"

"Have you seen anyone else around here?" asked Leon

"Only you," said Gwaine "There was another boy here too I think…. He was near the river…."

Leon looked up at that "Another boy? What did he look like?" Leon could only hope it was either Percival or Merlin.

Gwaine gave a big shrugged "I'm not sure – he had dark hair and…and…and was skinny…."

That much of be Merlin though Leon at once. "Can you show me the river… we need to find that boy…"

Gwaine looked at Leon carefully "Will he know how to get home?" asked Gwaine "I need to get home soon – mother doesn't like it when I stay out to long. She said I am too young to go off on my own... but my sister tell me to get lost all the time…"

"My brothers and Sisters told me the same thing," said Leon – he was one of the youngest in his family. He had no hope of taking over his father land which went to his oldest brother and his sisters were matched with other noble families. "Do you know the way to the river?"

"Yes, I defiantly know where it it…" said Gwaine defensively as he began to walk, Leon followed him hoping this was just a very strange dream.

...

Percival followed Merlin as he walked towards the cave. Merlin stopped walking and turn to Percival "You shouldn't go inside," he said "There's something strange about this cave…can't you feel it?" Merlin looked at Percival waiting for an answer.

"No I can't," said Percival then he frowned to himself "But you can – can't you?"

Merlin paused for a moment and looked unsure if he should answer or not. "Sometimes I have bad feelings about things…" he explain "You're not going in there are you?" he added with a worried tone of voice.

"I need to find my friends first," said Percival looking inside the cave it was familiar to the one they went in to begin with. Could it be the same?

"They might not be in there," said Merlin from behind him "They could be anywhere…" Merlin frowned to himself "Are they looking for you?"

"I hope so," said Percival.

"Do they think you're in the cave?" asked Merlin "Maybe you can wait here for them to come – if you only just lost them…they won't take that long…right?"

"Who knows," said Percival sitting down Merlin's logic was hard to argue with "My friends have a habit of getting into trouble." He saw a playful smile on Merlin's face "How about we wait here for a little bit – but if they don't come we will look somewhere else?" Merlin nodded his head but as he did that a twig from above them broke and something fell from the tree fell in front of them making jump. Merlin's eyes changed colour – to gold and an acorn stop in mid-air. Merlin and Percival shared a look, Merlin blinked and the acorn fell onto the ground. With one last look at Percival, Merlin turn to run away. He was fast and he was scared.

"Merlin!" yelled Percival standing up as Merlin disappeared into the trees. Percival dashed into the trees after the boy. Merlin had used magic – it wasn't a big shock for Percival in fact that explain so much. Merlin was the one who was behind the many unexplained events in Camelot, Merlin was the one who knew too much. Not many people could have known about this. Arthur definitively didn't know – but Lancelot must have known. Lancelot spoken highly of Merlin and they always had a close friendship… both Lancelot and Merlin were loyal to Camelot… "Merlin, come back…" yelled Percival

Merlin was nowhere in sight.

...

"I saw him there," said Gwaine pointing crossed the river "But he didn't see me, I was being sneaky… my sister say's I am too noisy to be sneaky but I can be quite if I want too…I swear…"

"Well he's not here now," said Leon - he wasn't surprise if this child was Merlin the likelihood he gone off somewhere was high. Merlin wasn't the kind of child who would stay in one place for to long. "Maybe we can find out what way he went…" Leon looked at the river – it wasn't that deep "We have to cross over…"

"I don't want to get wet," complained Gwaine "Can't you carry me across?"

Leon looked at the small boy "Are you joking?" he asked.

There was a paused "Actually….I can do it myself," declared Gwaine "I don't need no help from no noble…" with that they cross the river with little drama. Gwaine did need a little help but neither of them mention it.

Once they were on the other side Leon looked at the ground and found from foot prints. The small one must have been the child Gwaine saw – they were large set too. Leon hope that those foot prints belong to Percival. He didn't want to be the only adult in this place "The footprints are going into the trees – come on." To his surprised Gwaine followed him without a word. Leon took this that Gwaine was trusting him.

"What if they are wolfs in these woods?" asked Gwaine

"Wolfs rarely come near people." Said Leon at once "And if you leave them alone they will most likely leave you alone. Anyway it is too early for wolfs…if they are here."

Gwaine was quite for a moment "What if the wolf is very very very very hungry? Will they attack you then? Can wolfs eat people? I think they do – I knows lots of stories of wolf eating people – they can even eat giants….I heard a story about a wolf eating an giant, then the wolf become a giant wolf…."

Leon closed his eyes – this was going to be a long walk. "Why don't you like nobles?" asked Leon changing the subject quickly away from wolfs and giants.

Gwaine looked at Leon "Because they lie and got no.. h…honour…my father was an knight and he died and the king left us penniless…that's wasn't fair…."

"No," agree Leon, taking in what Gwaine was saying. Leon believed Gwaine was telling the truth - Gwaine was from a noble family maybe not a big or rich family but still a noble family "That's no fair at all…but not all kings are the same you know."

...

"Merlin!" called Percival as he stopped and looked around the boy was nowhere to be seen "Merlin, you need to come out…" Percival looked around Merlin couldn't of gone that far just yet and figure he was hiding. And hiding well. "It's okay I'm not going to hurt you…it was just a mistake… I know that…." He looked around he saw a slight movement though the trees. He pretended he didn't see – he didn't want Merlin to run again. So he faced the other way and talked "Magic doesn't scare me…you don't have to worry…I promise I won't hurt you at all…"

Percival looked back to see Merlin he looked wearily at Percival "It doesn't scare you?" he asked in a small voice. Merlin sounded unsure.

"Only bad magic dose – but you didn't use bad magic…I know that." said Percival choosing his words carefully. The magic Merlin used seemed like a natural reaction. Something that just happen without a second thought.

Merlin still looked worried "You can't tell no one – it's has to be a secret. If anyone finds out….bad things will happen… you got to promise you won't tell no one…. not ever….never ever..."

"I won't tell," vow Percival and he meant it too. He guess no one else in Camelot knew – well its likely Gaius did "Who taught you magic?" he asked

"No one – I could always use it…." Said Merlin at once "They say I am cursed…. They say my father was a demon…."

"I don't believe you are cursed…" said Percival at once. "Not for a second…also whoever your father is…he is not a demon… You shouldn't listen to those lies…" That was the second time the subject of Merlin's father come up – Percival wanted to ask the adult Merlin who he was but he thought better of it. Percival had a feeling that was a question he shouldn't ask.

"How do you know – we only just meet…." Pointed out Merlin

Percival looked at the child "I know because I meet a lot of people – And you are without a doubt a good person…and I won't tell anyone – not even if the king if Camelot asks me…that's a promise." Percival held out his hand and Merlin step closer and shook it. "Now we go back to the cave…." Merlin nodded his head slowly.

Leon and Gwaine arrived at the cave at the same time as Percival and Merlin did. Both Leon and Percival were grateful to see each other with relief "Any trouble?" asked Leon not wasting time with small talk.

"No – none at all…" said Percival he looked at Merlin who gave him a secret smile. Merlin grinned back a little.

Gwaine run up to Merlin "Hey – we been looking for you. My name is Gwaine."

"I am Merlin," said Merlin friendly

"So, now what?" asked Leon "Were do we go from here?" he looked at the cave "It all started in these caves…maybe it will end in them as well…."

"But those caves are cursed," Said Merlin at once looking at Leon like he had two heads "You don't go into curse caves don't you know that? Those caves are bad news…"

Leon blinked for a moment Merlin warned them from the start not to enter the caves and here he was doing to same thing again. Percival was the one that spoke up, "Merlin, any idea were now we can leave this…." Percival paused trying to find the right words.

"…Dream land?" asked Merlin like he knew about this all along. "This feel like a dream doesn't it?… so we just have to wake up…but we can't go in the cave…the nightmares are in there…."

"Oh this is a dream…" said Gwaine with a big grin "That's awesome, I thought everything was a little floaty….." Gwaine made his arms wobbly in front of him.

Leon looked at the two children in front of him "How do we wake from this dream?" it seem to Leon that between Gwaine and Merlin they hold the answers they needed to escape from this enchantment.

"I don't know," said Gwaine

"Maybe it's in a book," suggested Merlin

"They aren't no books here," said Leon rubbing his head feeling a headache coming on. "I still think we will find answers in the caves… But we cannot touch nothing and we need to walk through without touching anything…understand?" he was meet with two nods from Gwaine and Percival he looked at Merlin "We only in this dream because of these caves…"

"If you die in a dream you die in real life…." Said Merlin at once.

"We won't let that happen," said Leon at once "Just don't wonder off on your own…understand?"

Merlin nodded his head "But I warned you these caves are curse so you can't blame me if anything goes wrong…"

"We won't blame you," said Percival amused that this was what Merlin said from the very beginning "Come on - let's get this over and done with…" they all enter the caves

Leon sat up with a start and looked around he was laying on the floor of the cave with Percival and the grown up Gwaine and Merlin who also seem too woken up with a start. "Is this real?" asked Leon now unsure what was real. "Was that real?!

"I think so," said Percival "This feels real…not like…..that dream world….."

"What happen?" asked Gwaine confused "I don't remember anything…"

"I can't remember anything either…" said Merlin looking equally confused about what Leon and Percival were talking about.

Leon and Percival explained what had happen in the dream land. "So we enter the caves to wake up?" question Merlin like he didn't believe it. "These caves don't made no sense…no sense what so ever..."

"So do we carry on?" asked Gwaine looking deeper into the caves

"We have too," said Percival "We can't go back and we can't stay here…I am starting to think.. these spells or whatever these fires are…they are tests…"

"Testing what?" asked Gwaine

"I don't know... but maybe that's why we woke up…we passed the test?" said Percival

"Test or no tests we need to carry on," said Leon "Ready, let's get going…" and they carry on going through the tunnels hoping to find a way out. Leon found himself next to Gwaine and of course Gwaine had questions about what just happen.

"So, what was I like as a child?" asked Gwaine as they walked. "I have been told I was rather annoying…" Leon didn't answer right away "What did I do?"

"It was more what you said," said Leon "I thought you talk a lot now…."

"I say a lot of things," said Gwaine he paused for an moment "What did I say?"

Leon paused for a moment and look back at Percival and Merlin who were a little way behind. Leon briefly wounded if they were having the same chat. "You told me your father was a knight?"

Gwaine paused for a moment looking uncomfortable. "A long time ago, titles didn't help my family when he died and since then I believed that respect is something you earn not brought and not a birth right…" Gwaine shrugged "Arthur had earned my respect most of the time…and he made me a knight without knowing my past…"

"Does anyone know?"

"Only Merlin," stated Gwaine "Everything about becoming a knight of Camelot was down to Arthur and Merlin because they for some reason trusted me. They didn't trust or respected me because of the family I was born…."

Behind them Merlin and Percival were walking behind. Percival purposely walked a little more slowly to make some space between then and Leon and Gwaine, Merlin seem to sense that Percival wanted to talk "I saw you use magic in the dream land," said Percival trying to keep his tone causal. "You said you could always use it?"

Merlin eyes widen and looked like he was judging the situation. His eyes wonder over to Leon and Gwaine but they haven't heard what Percival had said. "I was born with it – my mother was terrified someone who find out." He said finally "You know what would happen if anyone found out."

Merlin and Percival said nothing for a while "I'm not going to tell," said Percival breaking the silent "Lancelot once told me you were braver and more loyal that what people thought – I didn't realised how much until now. He knew didn't he?"

Merlin nodded his head "Yes, he figure out…very quickly. "

"And Arthur? The others?"

"They don't know," said Merlin in a low voice "Gaius dose…. But that's all."

They was something in Merlin's voice that Percival hadn't heard before "Must be lonely…."

"I can't begin to explain it," said Merlin looking older than what he was, "Why aren't you going to tell, it go against the laws of Camelot? And you're a knight of Camelot…."

Percival knew the laws of Camelot pretty well now, but he was sure Merlin knew them better then him. "I trusted Lancelot and Lancelot trusted you," said Percival simply "Lancelot was a good judge of character –he also told me that you were one of the greatest man he ever meet…"

"Lancelot said that to you?" asked Merlin sounding like he didn't believe him.

"I was puzzled why he would drop everything from a word of a servant," said Percival "Figured if a servant could be as great as Lancelot said his master must be a good man as well…" Merlin snorted "Arthur hasn't get rid of you let has he? He keep you as his servant despite your lack of prober servantly skills…"

"Oi, you two quit gossiping and look at this!" called Gwaine and they rush up were Leon and Gwaine stood in front was two tunnels one was wall a door of water, the other was dark and narrow tunnel "This may be our way out," said Gwaine looking at the water "The water lighter… could be away outside…can we all swim?"

"Well enough," said Leon

"Even with chain mail on?" question Merlin "Even with your weapons?"

Leon shook his head "Not that well," he didn't want to levee his weapons behind – they didn't know when they might need it. But this could be their way out and Leon had to get them all out of here. "Do we go through the water?" he asked walking closer to it. "It looks safe but here….. Nothing is as it seems…." Merlin step forward to have a closer look "Do you know anything about this type of thing?"

"Why would I know?" asked Merlin at once in a defensive tone.

"You seem more knowable about this sort of thing than any of us," pointed out Leon fairly "Figured you might have come across something in one of Gaius's books….." They got in this mess because they didn't listen to Merlin in the first place – Leon thought they better listen to him now.

Merlin looked at the water more closely. "It is too clear….." said Merlin "Water not normally this clear, or that bright….I think it's lending us to a false path….I do not trust this way….it doesn't feel right to me."

Gwaine looked at the other way "You think this way is the best?" Merlin nodded his head "The others nodded their heads "Well, let's hope you are right about this Merlin…."